hed wings. Up he flew into
the air, over woods and seas, over the great mountains where the snow
is always lying. And if she was cold she crept under his warm
feathers, only keeping her little head out to admire all the beautiful
things in the world beneath. At last they came to warm lands; there
the sun was brighter, the sky seemed twice as high, and in the hedges
hung the finest green and purple grapes; in the woods grew oranges and
lemons: the air was scented with myrtle and mint, and on the roads
were pretty little children running about and playing with great
gorgeous butterflies. But the swallow flew on farther, and it became
more and more beautiful. Under the most splendid green trees beside a
blue lake stood a glittering white marble castle. Vines hung about the
high pillars; there were many swallows' nests, and in one of these
lived the swallow who was carrying Thumbelina.

'Here is my house!' said he. 'But it won't do for you to live with me;
I am not tidy enough to please you. Find a home for yourself in one of
the lovely flowers that grow down there; now I will set you down, and
you can do whatever you like.'

'That will be splendid!' said she, clapping her little hands.

There lay a great white marble column which had fallen to the ground
and broken into three pieces, but between these grew the most
beautiful white flowers. The swallow flew down with Thumbelina, and
set her upon one of the broad leaves. But there, to her astonishment,
she found a tiny little man sitting in the middle of the flower, as
white and transparent as if he were made of glass; he had the
prettiest golden crown on his head, and the most beautiful wings on
his shoulders; he himself was no bigger than Thumbelina. He was the
spirit of the flower. In each blossom there dwelt a tiny man or woman;
but this one was the King over the others.

'How handsome he is!' whispered Thumbelina to the swallow.

[Illustration: We Will Call You May Blossom]

The little Prince was very much frightened at the swallow, for in
comparison with one so tiny as himself he seemed a giant. But when he
saw Thumbelina, he was delighted, for she was the most beautiful girl
he had ever seen. So he took his golden crown from off his head and
put it on hers, asking her her name, and if she would be his wife, and
then she would be Queen of all the flowers. Yes! he was a different
kind of husband to the son of the toad and the mole with the
black-velvet coat. So s